With Pick 7B in the 2024 Draft GB Selects Penn State CB Kalen King

[Mark87]

2023 • JUNIOR SEASON

Awards: Postseason: Was voted by the coaches and media as an All-Big Ten second team honoree. Preseason: Earned first-team preseason All-American honors from the Associated Press, Sporting News and PFF...Named to the Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists.

Season: Started all 12 games...Made 29 tackles (20 solo) to go along with 1.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups...Named the coaching staff's Defensive Player of the Game (West Virginia, 9/2).

West Virginia (9/2): Posted four tackles. at Illinois (9/16): Made four tackles (3 solo) to go along with a pass breakup. Iowa (9/23): Assisted on one tackle. at Northwestern (9/30): Posted two solo stops. at Ohio State (10/21): Made six tackles (5 solo) to go along with a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss. Indiana (10/28): Made three solo tackles...Added a pass breakup. at Maryland (11/4): Made five tackles (4 solo). Michigan (11/11): Posted two tackles. Rutgers (11/18): Made a solo tackle. at Michigan State (11/24): Assisted on a tackle.

2022 • SOPHOMORE SEASON

Awards: Named second-team All-America by the Walter Camp Football Foundation...Selected third-team All-America by Pro Football Focus and honorable mention All-America by Phil Steele...Garnered third-team All-Big Ten honors by the coaches and media...Named to the Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten first team, AP All-Big Ten second team and Phil Steele All-Big Ten second team...Earned the team's Keystone Award along with Abdul Carter and Juice Scruggs.

Season: Appeared in all 13 games, starting nine at cornerback...Made 30 tackles (23 solo), three tackles for loss, 18 pass breakups, three interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery...Named the coaching staff's Defensive Player of the Game twice (Central Michigan, 9/24; Michigan State, 11/26).

Rankings: Led the Big Ten in passes defended (21; 3rd nationally) and pass breakups (18; 3rd)...Finished tied for eighth in the conference in interceptions (3).

at Purdue (9/1): Recorded a pass breakup to go along with a solo tackle. Ohio (9/10): Assisted on a tackle. at Auburn (9/17): Made two solo stops and broke up a pass. Central Michigan (9/24): Forced and recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter...The fumble was his first career recovery...Registered four pass breakups. Northwestern (10/1): Tallied three pass breakups...Added two solo tackles and a quarterback hurry. at Michigan (10/15): Picked up three solo tackles, including a tackle for loss. Minnesota (10/22): Recorded three total tackles...Added one pass breakup. Ohio State (10/29): Totaled four tackles (2 solo), including a tackle for loss...Added a pass breakup. at Indiana (11/5): Snagged his first career interception in the third quarter. Maryland (11/12): Broke up two passes to go along with two tackles. at Rutgers (11/19): Made a solo stop. Michigan State (11/26): Set a career high with five pass breakups...Posted four solo tackles...Recorded an interception in the fourth quarter. vs. Utah (1/2): Intercepted his third pass of the season in the first quarter...Made three tackles (2 solo).

2021 • TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON

Season: Appeared in 13 games, making one start...Tallied 23 tackles (15 solo), one tackle for loss, five pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Ball State (9/11): Recorded three solo tackles and forced his first career fumble. Auburn (9/18): Tallied two tackles. Villanova (9/25): Posted a solo stop. Indiana (10/2): Assisted on a tackle. Illinois (10/23): Made one tackle. Michigan (11/13): Recorded three tackles (2 solo) and a pass breakup. Rutgers (11/20): Recorded a career-high two pass breakups. at Michigan State (11/27): Posted five tackles (4 solo), including a tackle for loss...Added a pass breakup. vs. Arkansas (1/1): Made a career-high seven tackles (4 solo) and broke up a pass.

HIGH SCHOOL

Four-year letterman at Cass Technical High School for head coach Thomas Wilcher...Two-time team captain...Two-time all-state, all-region, all-city and Detroit Public School League All-Conference selection...Had three interceptions, five pass breakups and 13 tackles as a senior in a shortened season...Also scored eight touchdowns on offense...As a junior, tallied one interception, four pass breakups and 25 tackles...Additionally had 13 touchdowns...Helped lead the Technicians to an 11-2 mark during sophomore season...Forced two fumbles, had one interception and added seven pass breakups that year...Was part of an 11-3 squad that was district and regional champs as a freshman, tallying three breakups...Rated as the No. 16 cornerback and No. 8 prospect in Michigan by 247Sports...Ranked as the No. 44 cornerback, No. 69 prospect in the region and No. 13 prospect in Michigan by ESPN...Tabbed as the No. 134 prospect nationally, No. 10 prospect at his position and No. 6 in the state by Rivals...Also played basketball and ran track at Cass Tech.

PERSONAL

Full name is Kalen Daron King...Son of TaDarrell and Felicia King...Twin brother, Kobe, is also a member of the Penn State football team...Likes to listen to music...Majoring in recreation, park and tourism management.

 

[realitybytes]

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Overview​

King's 2022 performance was significantly better than what he put on tape in 2023, but it might not be enough to sway some evaluators. King was consistently rocked out of position by route breaks over the first two levels and didn't find the ball frequently enough with his back to the passer on deep shots. He doesn't have the fluidity to just mirror and match routes, so he'll need to get back to playing more physically from press to slow down route momentum. King is more than capable of tilting 50/50 balls in his favor when he's in position, but finding positioning in man or zone coverages as a pro could be very challenging.

Strengths​

• Showed ability to slow press release with his hands in 2022.
• Finished 2022 with 15 pass breakups and three interceptions.
• Opens gait and strides with long routes downfield.
• Swings long arms around receiver to swat throws away when in position.
• Comes up and shocks perimeter blockers with good punch.

Weaknesses​

• Lacks change-of-direction balance for sticky man coverage.
• Easy catch windows were consistently opened on him in 2023.
• Loses coverage focus when attacked with combo routes.
• Can be a step slow reading quarterback's operation from zone.
• Rushes downhill with poor technique and control as a tackler.

 

[GBP4EVER]

Is he already better then Kevin King?

 

[Mark87]

He was a projected first-round pick after 22 and then had an awful year and worse senior bowl however it's all there if someone can harness it. Might be a rebuild project worth the gamble.

 

[GBP4EVER]

King phone call with media. He was emotional during phone call saying he has chip on shoulder.

 

[Cheesedog]

I like this kid. He prob is with the one team that can rebuild him. And with being a late pick he won’t have real high expectations right away.

 

[rpiotr01]

 

[rpiotr01]

Gute has shown a real willingness in late rounds to look past the latest season and draft a guy based on previous seasons' play. End of the 7th round it's priority UDFA territory, well worth the risk on a guy with a rough last year and 4.61. I know I sound like a deranged parrot sometimes, repeating over and over about Packer types.... but I just think it's true. They covet corners who can run because there's a correlation with speed and success for CBs in the NFL. Not to say slower guys can't play, but I dont think they're going to invest high round picks in one. That said, they have seen guys like Ladarius Gunter with a 4.7 come in and help them to a NFC title game. Rasul Douglas was a 4.6 guy. Can be done, just takes a guy to be special in other areas to make up for it.

 

[Badger]

So, the question to be answered is: which is the real Kalen King ... the 2022 version or 2023?

PSU is a program who doesn't put chumps in the d backfield. I'm of the opinion that with his great 2022 season, he decided that was good enough, so he stopping working hard and skated through 2023, playing to not get hurt, assuming his payday was coming in the 2024 draft. He's getting a rude awakening on how fleeting fame and success can be if you stop working on your trade.

He said all the right things last night. Now let's see if he can back it up.